Edible reinforcers:
Things such as candy, pretzels, ice cream, dry cereal, popcorn, and anything that a
student can consume and that is liked, and that will have the student continue to display the target behavior.
Some students may prefer ice cream, and others candy, so the informed teacher using R+ of any type
should ask the student what he or she would like to earn for contingent appropriate behavior. Don’t assume
that what you are fond of the student will similarly like.
Tangible reinforcers:
Things such as books, toys, pens, pencils, erasers, dolls, balloons, stickers, and
anything that the student can hold, feel, manipulate in some way, and that the student likes.
Exchangeable reinforcers:
Things such as tokens (in a token economy system in a classroom), smiley
face charms, poker chips, achievement stars, gift certificates, and points earned and saved that can be
“cashed in” for something else more desirable and valuable.
Activity reinforcers:
Things such as extra recess time, serving as the hall monitor or cafeteria monitor,
being the first in line, playing a game of checkers with the teacher or principal (again, only if the individual
student finds this activity prestigious and desirable), and erasing the whiteboards in the classroom.
Social reinforcers:
Things such as smiles and a “thumbs-up” gesture by the teacher, verbal praise such
as “good job,” “can’t fool you,” “that’s right,” and “good for you,” a soft pat on the back, a wink of the
eye, and positive comments written on a student’s paper or work.
Sensory reinforcers:
Things such as watching television or a DVD, listening to music on an MP3 player,
watching birds in a school courtyard, manipulating a toy that makes noise (e.g., rubber duck).
Schedules of reinforcement
When a teacher attempts to shape a new behavior in a student — one that the student has yet to demonstrate
at an independent level —
continuous reinforcement
should be used. This schedule of reinforcement is simple
in that each time the student displays the desired target behavior, the teacher or paraprofessional delivers the
desired R+ to the student. Continuous positive reinforcement is especially useful in teaching new behaviors
that were previously absent from the student’s behavioral repertoire.
Intermittent reinforcement
is the delivery of R+ on a prearranged schedule of after every third or fifth display
of a behavior (or some other pre-determined level of behavior display). Once the behavior has been “fed” on
continuous reinforcement to start the learning process, moving to an intermittent schedule greatly assists in
maintaining the behavior at desired frequency levels. Intermittent reinforcement can include
fixed
and
variable
ratios
(involving counting the number of times a behavior occurs and subsequently delivering the
reinforcement), and fixed and variable
intervals
(involving the display of the target behavior at least once in
addition to some passage of time).
In
thinning of reinforcement
, the desired R+ is offered less and less often and, hence, requires more of the
desired behavior to occur over a period of time.
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Schedules of reinforcement can sometimes become
cumbersome to use in the classroom, and the teacher needs to be very vigilant in using them. Teachers who
desire more in-depth information concerning schedules of reinforcement should consult Alberto and
Troutman.
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